Section 2: GDP and Per Capita GDP around the World

Per capita GDP is the value of gross domestic product per individual of a country. If nominal GDP is $19.5 trillion (the approximate 2017 GDP of the United States), and its population is 325 million (the approximate 2017 U.S. population), then per capita GDP is $60,000 ($19.5 trillion divided by 325 million).

For a video explanation of how per capita GDP is calculated, please watch:

Below is a table with nominal and per capita GDP of selected countries. The United States and China are ranked at the top in total (nominal) GDP in 2016 and 2017. Qatar topped the list in per capita GDP in 2016. Qatar’s overall (total) GDP is one of the lowest of the listed countries (most of it from oil revenues); however, because its population is small, its GDP/Population ratio is very high. According to the CIA World Fact Book, the United States per capita GDP for 2016 was ranked 19th of all countries in the world. African countries such as Burundi, Congo, Somalia, and Zimbabwe had the lowest per capita GDP at approximately $400 – $600 per person per year. For a full list of GDP and per capita GDP amounts for every country in the world, visit https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/

Country/Area

2012 Estimated Gross Domestic Product in Purchasing Power Parity in Billions of U.S. dollars

2012 Estimated Per Capita GDP

2014 Gross Domestic Product in Purchasing Power Parity in Billions of U.S. dollars (estimates for some countries)

2014 Per Capita GDP (estimates for some countries)

2015 Gross Domestic Product in Purchasing Power Parity in Billions of U.S. dollars (estimates for some countries)

2015 Per Capita GDP (estimates for some countries)

Latest reported year (2016 for most countries) estimated Gross Domestic Product in Purchasing Power Parity in Billions of U.S. dollars

Latest reported year (2016 for most countries) estimated Per Capita GDP